The second round of the European Women’s Chess Championship saw intense battles across the boards. While there were no major upsets on the top three boards, with all games ending in draws, the competition remains fierce. After two rounds, 15 players have maintained a perfect score, keeping the fight for the top spots wide open.
One of the best aspects of this tournament is the sheer number of high-level games available to follow. Chess enthusiasts have the opportunity to watch some of the strongest women players in Europe compete, showcasing their skills and creativity. Having played in this event twice myself—first in Tatry, Slovakia, in 2018, and then in Antalya, Turkey, in 2019—I can say from experience that it is an incredible tournament, both in terms of competition and overall experience.
Notable Games from Round 2
Allahverdiyeva – Ushenina: The former Women’s World Champion Ushenina had a winning chance but repeated moves, resulting in a draw.
Ushenina I guess was in time pressure and repeated with 37…Bg2+ 38.Kg1 Bh3+ and the game ended in a draw. Black missed a move to play for a win, can you find it?
Urh Zala – Fataliyeva, Ulviyya: An interesting endgame.
In this rook endgame, the material is balanced, but White’s advanced central passed pawn makes the position challenging for Black to defend.
Black’s mistake with 48…Rc7 presents an opportunity—how can White capitalize on it?
Gevorgyan, Maria – Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina: A wild game with an adventurous king march! Both players had opportunities to seize the initiative, but in the end, the game ended with missed chances on both sides.
White missed an opportunity to secure a decisive advantage—can you find the winning sequence?
After several moves, Black got a winning chance, should Black promote to a queen immediately or give a check on e4 first?
Maltsevskaya – Dwilewicz:
Looking Ahead
With 15 players still on full points, the competition is only going to get tougher. The next rounds promise more exciting matchups as players fight for top positions.
Pairings for Round 3
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